Today’s Gospel is another reminder of the importance of giving thanks to God for His work in our lives: healing us, growing us, saving us. Of the ten lepers that were healed, only ONE came back to prostrate himself before God and offer his humble thanksgiving to God. We can easily take God’s work in our lives for granted. All of us are, in a sense, like these ten lepers: we’ve all received and ARE receiving healing, grace, love, forgiveness from God. The question is, are we like the other nine who received healing but did not come back to God in obeisance, or, are we like the one who returned, prostrated himself, and gave thanks? Giving thanks is key to our spiritual health. As Orthodox, we believe that we are saved not just individually, but also, in part, corporately. We are our brother’s keeper. Your salvation is also connected to the salvation of your brother and sister next to you. Do we give thanks to God for His work in us? Do we give thanks to God for His work among us? Do we give thanks to God for this Mission and His work in our lives through this church? What, if anything, may you be taking for granted? As we work out our salvation and glorify God, we want to be like the one leper who returned, to give thanks, to humble himself and learn from God, prostrating himself before Him. May we go and do likewise!
Christ God’s love and blessing, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Wed, Dec. 10, , 7-8 p.m., Special Nativity (Advent) Paraklesis, St. John’s Boathouse.
- Friday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m., Strategic Mission Council Meeting and budget planning, Rectory.
- Sat, Dec. 13, 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers Confession following
- Sun, Dec. 14, 9:30 a.m., Hours 10am Divine Liturgy, Trapeza (fish, wine, oil allowed)
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24, 10 p.m. LUMINOUS FEAST of the NATIVITY. Bring a quiche and desert to share!
November Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $3,405 in offerings in November ($2448 in October). $2500 was pledged. Glory to God! $25,536 was received in offerings from January – October 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $27,500. This leaves us a gap of $2,000 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses! Please stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering and/or making a special one-time gift to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision and thank you for your faithful support, which insures that our Mission can continue and grow! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
2015 Pledge Update: $2330 has been pledged monthly for 2015. The average pledge is $220 per family. To meet our financial needs, we need $2500 in monthly pledges. If you’re willing to increase your pledge (or make a pledge) to help meet this need and provide for our Mission’s needs and growth, please contact Fr. Robert right away. We ask everyone to be as generous as possible, giving thanks with a grateful heart for God’s work in our lives through this church.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Newly-departed handmaiden of God, Genica, newly-departed servant of God, John (grandfather of Sbdn. Michael Anthony).
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Bede, Wanda, Peter, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering, persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine., for all those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and for a speedy end to the disease.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure ^body,
You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Your ^Kingdom!// Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
Troparion (St Ambrose) Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you; // your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Ambrose, // entreat Christ our God // that our souls may be saved!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 1
As God, You rose from the tomb in glory, // raising the world with Yourself.
Human nature praises You as God, for death has vanished.
Adam exults, O Master! // Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to You://
“You are the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Kontakion (St Ambrose) Tone 3
You shone forth with divine doctrine, eclipsing the deception of Arius,
shepherd and initiate of the mysteries, Ambrose.
You worked miracles through the power of the Spirit,
healing various passions;// righteous Father, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.
